Clip for pens, pencils and the like



Dec. l, 1931. w, GORDON CLIP FOR PENS, PENCILS, AND THE LIKE Filed April 3. 1930 VENTO BY 1/LM ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 1, 1931 PATENT OFFICE.v

WILLIAM GRDON, F UNION',l NEW JERSEY CLIP FOB PENS, PENCILS AND THE LIKE Application led April 3, 1930. Serial No. 441,226.

This invention relates to improvements in clips for pens, pencils and the like to secureA the same within the pocket of the user and tion is to simplify the construction and to facilitate and make more positive the operation of clips for pens, pencils and the like having automatically engageable and manually-releasable spur members mounted therein.

Still another object of my invention is to enable a relatively small clip of neat appearance to be produced.

Another object of my invention is to enable the operating member to be effectively guided in its releasing movement.

Another object of my invention is to rovide means for guiding the movement o the spur element or member in its fabric-engagin and releasing movement.

till another object of my invention is to provide a clip construction in which a pair of spur members are so arranged as to cause one member of each pair to extend on opposite sides of a centrally-located operating member which is adapted to split the bore of the clip into a plurality of sections and thus engaging and disengaging movements.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the combination of members and arrangement of parts so combined as to co-act andcooperate with' eachother in the performance o f the functions and the accomplishment of the results herein contemplatedfand comprises in one of its adaptations the species or preferred form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a view of a pencil showing a clip embodying my invention in front elevation;

Fig. 2 is a view of the said pencil clip with the clip shown in Fig. 1 in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3 3 of Fig. '2, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, showing e pencil to assist in guiding the spur elements in their mounted in the pocket of the user with the spur members in engagement with the fabric;

Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 4, showing the spur members in withdrawn or released position; y

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow.

.Referring now to these drawings, which illustrate al preferred embodiment of my invent-ion, 1 indicates a pencil having a cap 2 to which my clip 3 is attached. The cli 3 may be fastened to the cap 2 in any suit le manner and, as shown, is provided with an y attaching flange 3 and an integral spring head or elbow 4 for resiliently forcing the clip toward the periphery of the pencil cap to contact with the edge P of a pocket when the pencil having a clip is seated therein. As illustrated, the clip is formed of a single piece of metal bent to provide a hollow, downwardly tapering body portion 3 which is circular in cross section as shown in'Fi 6 and is provided at its lower end with a ho ow ball 5. In the preferred embodiment of m invention, the clip is formed in dies an the metal for the body portion and a part of the ball abuts-along the longitudinal line 3* and the metal for part of the ball is bent upwardly and abuts along the transverse line 5.

As illustrated, my clip has a bore b which is circular in cross-section and relatively small, particularly at its lower end and the inner wall of the body portion 3a between the ends thereof is provided with a transverse opening 6 communicating between the said 35 bore and the outer surface of the-clip.

In my present invention, a spiral spring 7 is seated in the bottom portion of the bore of my said clip and mounted in said bore to rest on the upper end of said spring .is a longitudinally-disposed operating member 8 having pivotally mounted at its lower end a pair of spur members 9. The operating member preferably has a circular end or foot 9a which seats on the upper end of the spring and provides a pressure-equalizing connection with the spring. As illustrated, the spur members 9 comprise a. piece of U- shaped wire sharpened at its ends as at 9 and pivoted intermediate its ends as at 9" in a hole 8 at the bottom of the operating member 8. Also in said preferred embodiment, the spur members are bent between the pointed ends 9 and the mounting portion thereof, as shown at 9b so as to have an inclination in relation to the axis of the bore and to permit the movement and projection of the points 9 through the openings 6.

Also in the preferred embodiment of my invention, the upper portion of the wall of the opening 6 is inclined as shown at 6 so as to provide an inclined guiding surface for the movement of the spur members 9 during the engaging and releasing movements thereof.

It will be noted that the operating element 8 divides the bore b into two sections and thus, in effect, provides a central partition which divides the bore into two parts, in each of which one of the spur members is movable.

It is desirable to prevent a turning movement of the member 8 and, in the preferred form of my invention shown, the said member 8 is guided and prevented from turning at its upper end by forming a loop or bail l0 having oppositely-disposed guide` members 10, 10 which closely fit over the edges 4', 4 of the head 4. The loop or bail 10 has sufficient depth or height to enable compression of the spring 7 and a suilicient withdrawal through the opening 6 of the spur members to sheath the spur members and release a fabric upon a manual movement of the said loop or bail by the finger of the user. The

. loop l0 will also, as above indicated, prevent any turning movement of the operating eleinent 8 and will thus hold the parts in proper operative position.

It will be seen from the above that I have greatly simplified the construction of devices of the character specified; that I have also, by the use of a plurality or pair of spur meinbers arranged on opposite sides of the central operating member, I am enabled greatly to increase the efficiency of the device; that I have also provided an extremely simple guiding means for the operating member which not only serves as a finger-engaging element but also as a' guide for the operating element. It will also be seen that by the provision of a relatively small bore and an operating element which fits the same snugly, I am enabled to guide the lower end of t e device and, furthermore, that by the use of the inclined walls 6 of the oplening 6 I am enabled to provide a surface w ich will guide the movement of the spur members 9 and I am thus enabled to eliminate all springs except the single compression spring 7.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. A clip for pens, pencils and the like embodying, in combination, a clip body having a longitudinally-extending bore and provided between its ends with av transverse opening communicating with said bore and the outer surface of the clip, 'an operating member mounted to move longitudinally within said bore and provided with a pivot bearing, a spur member pivotally mounted on said operating member and having its upper end pointed and movable through said transverse opening by said. operating meniber, means for guiding said spur member in its movement through said transverse opening, a spring for moving said operating member longitudinally to move said spur into projected position through said transverse opening to engage a fabricand manuallyoperable releasing means for moving said operating member longitudinally in the opposite direction against the action of said spring to sheath said spur member and ielease the fabric.

2. A clip for pens, pencils and the like embodying, in combination, a clip body having a loiigitudinally-extending bore and provided between its ends with a transverse opening communicating with said bore and the' outer surface of the clip, an operating member mounted to move longitudinally within said bore, a spur member pivotally mounted onv said operating member and having its upper end pointed and movable through said transverse opening by said operating member, said spur member having an inclined portion extending transversely of the axis of the operating member, and said transverse opening having an upwardly inclined wall adapted toengage and guide said inclined end of the spur, a spring for moving said operating member longitudinally to move said spur into projected position through said transverse opening to engage a fabric, and manually-operable releasing means for moving said operating member longitudinally in the opposite direction against the action of said spring to sheath said spur member and release the fabric.

3. A clip for pens, pencils and the like embodying, in combination, a clip body having a longitudinally-extending bore and provided between its ends with a transverse opening communicating with said bore and the outer surface of the clip, an operating member mounted to move longitudinally within said bore, a spur member pivotally mounted on said operating member and having its upper end pointed and movable through said transverse opening by said operating member, said spur member having an inclined portion extending transvcrsely of the axis of the operating member, and said transverse opening having an upwardly inclined wall adapted to engage and guide said inclined end of the spur, a spring for moving said operating member longitudinally to move said spur into projected position through said transverse opening to engage a fabric, and a manuallyoperable'releasing loop engageable with the head ofthe clip to guide and prevent turning movement of said operating member.

4. A clip for pens, pencils and the like embodying, in combination, a clip body having a longitudinally-extending bore and provided between its ends with a transverse opening communicating with said bore and the outer surface of the clip, a plurality of spur members mounted to move longitudinally Within said bore and having spur ends inclined in relation to the axis of said bore and movable through said transverse opening, an inclined surface on said openin for guiding the movement of said spurs t erethrough, an operating member mounted to move longitudinally within said bore and pivotally connected with said spur members, a spring for moving said operating member longitudinally to move said spurs into projected position through said transverse opening to engage a fabric, and manually-operable releasing means at the upper end of said operating member for moving said operating member longitudinally in the opposite direction against the action of said spring to sheath said spur member and release thefabric.

5. A clip for pens, pencils and the like embodying, in combination, a clip body having a longitudinally-extending bore and provided between its ends with a transverse Opening communicatingwith said bore and the outer surface of the clip, a spur member mounted to move longitudinally within said bore and having a spur end inclined in rela- .':5 tion to the axis of said bore and movable through said transverse opening, an inclined surface on said opening for guiding the movement of said spur therethrough, an operating member having its lower end closely `fitting 40 within the bore of the clip so as to be guided by the wall of said bore, a spring for moving said operating lmember longitudinally to move said spur member into engagement with a fabric, and a manually-operable releasing loop for moving said operating member in the opposite direction againstl the action of said spring, said loop being enga eable during operating movement. with the clip to guide the upper end of said operating member and to prevent turning movement thereof.

` In witness whereof, I have signedrmy name to the foregoing s cification.

LIAM GORDON. 

